In The News: Single-Use Plastic – Are We Willing to Change?

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Dean of the Faculty of Management and a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University and Dr. Tony Walker, an assistant professor at the School for Resource and Environmental Studies Dalhousie University suggests that replacing plastics will require a consumer revolution.

Are we willing to change?

Martinique Beach

Are we ready to give up the single-use plastic bags, cutlery, straws, plastic drink bottles, coffee cups? Plastic is ubiquitous, quick, efficient and easily thrown away – out of sight. There is a 5-cent charge in some stores for plastic grocery bags that may seem to be a reasonable and a fair price to pay for convenience. But is it fair and reasonable for our environment?

Increasing public awareness has made us look for alternatives to plastic.

We are rethinking our reliance on plastic and considering that our individual decisions do make a difference in the effort to safeguard our environment. Going forward, the trend to choose 100% cotton grocery bags and reusable water bottles and coffee cups appears to be flourishing. Convenience is not as important as championing sustainable living.

The Faculty of Management, Dalhousie University is at the forefront of research in resource and environmental studies.

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and Dr. Tony Walker:

An increasing number of people are voicing concerns about the use of plastics in our daily lives. Single-use plastics of any kind, such as grocery bags, cutlery, straws, polystyrene and coffee cups, are significant yet preventable sources of plastic land-based and marine pollution. In Canada, bans on plastics have so far been left up to municipalities, some of which are taking action. Both Montreal and Victoria have recently decided to ban plastic bags in stores, with business owners subject to huge fines if caught providing these to customers. Other jurisdictions, such as the city of Halifax and the province of Nova Scotia, are contemplating similar bans, in the wake of China’s recent ban on the import of certain recyclable products. Although regulations are cropping up in only certain places, increasing public awareness appears to be gaining widespread momentum globally and across Canada. Read the full story on The Globe & Mail: Replacing Plastics Will Require a Consumer Revolution